Chicken Soup for the Soul (Chicken Soup) [Paperback]

Editor-Jack Canfield; Editor-Mark Victor Hansen (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Vermilion (2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0091819563
• ISBN-13: 978-0091819569
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,942,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Sentimental (And That's Being Nice), February 19, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Paperback)

Perhaps, I am too cynical. Perhaps, I have lost my innocence. But once again, I picked up a book, I thought might reach deeper, might have meaning . . . but alas, I found a book that made happiness and meaningfulness seem easy, too easy. I didn't buy it. This book tries so hard to please that it smacks of a cheesy attempt to make money on a public truly searching for meaning. Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful stories in here but too often they are surrounded by those quick anecdotes about someone who would have comitted suicide if a stranger hadn't said I love you to them on the bus and now their life is wonderful. Or Big Ed who after one seminar finally learned to love his wife and ended-up executive vice-president. To me, this book makes me wonder why I have such a difficult time changing my life and finding true happiness. It seems so easy to these people. If you lower your expectations, feel free to read this book, you'll find a few gems. If you want short stories filled with more depth try Anthony de Mello's One Minute Nonsense or Song of the Bird. And if you are truly looking for books that will get you thinking about the meaning of it all go try John Irving's Prayer for Owen Meany or David James Duncan's River Why or Daniel Quinn's Ishmael. I found this book to be less like Chicken Soup and more like lifesavers. They sound good and taste good, but if you are really hungry they do not come close to filling you up

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, not great, June 27, 2009

By 

Nathan Ortega (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicken Soup for the Soul (Paperback)

I picked up this book based largely on the fact that it is a #1 NY Times Bestseller and that it has received rave reviews. My impression after reading it is that the book on the whole is not worthy of its stature as one of the bestselling books in the past 2 decades. Some of the stories are good, and some do evoke emotions. But the ultra-short length of the stories makes them seem (again, over all) more superficial than stories of greater length. It's difficult to convey a compelling feeling or thought (which, by their very nature, need some context) in one or two pages. But some of the stories are good and I'd recommend others to pick up this book. Just keep your expectations in check.

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Review: Chicken Soup for the Soul, August 5, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Chicken Soup for the Soul (Hardcover)

The book "Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart & Rekindle the Spirit" is an excellent book. The book was originally given to me by a friend who thought that I "would enjoy it". Me, the person who genuinely dislikes reading any kind of book for pleasure, "enjoy" this book. Definately not me, I thought to myself.

I had to travel on a business trip alone, therefore I took the book along (just in case I got extremely bored). Thoughtout my trip, the book didn't get cracked open. I found other things to do with my time, than read a book.

Yet, on my return flight, my reservations were mixed up for some reason or another. Therefore, I ended up having a 4 1/2 hour layover in the Dallas Airport. Being upset, I didn't even want to shop. I also didn't want to look out of place, so, I opened the book and started glancing at first, pretending to read.

Then all of a sudden, as if a magnet were pulling me closer, I began to read the first short story in the book. It was so real and inspiring that I continued to read. I couldn't wait to flip a page. As a matter of fact, I was really thirsty. Not wanting to put the book down, I continued reading. Every story hit close to home and I could relate to most everything being read.

At one point, I heard a young man say "I think you could use this tissue more than I can", as he handed me a tissue. Looking up at him, I noticed that my eyes were filled with tears. The story I had been reading was so real that I found myself crying and feeling the characters emotions. Being a little embarrased (but not much), I explained how I typically do not shed a tear for most books. I told the young man how this book was so capturing and inspiring, that it pulls you in and holds your mind,emotions, and attention captive. He laughed and said something to the effect of "most women cry over mushy things".

Sitting next to me, he read over my shoulder as I continued to read. When I finished the short story, I turned and looked and him and noticed that he too had tears in his eyes. I didn't say a word, but the spiritual emotions were evident. We were both captured by this wonderful book.

Till this day, I thank my friend for giving me this book. I have also given a copy of this same book to many friends (the first one, being my new friend that I met at the Dallas Airport that day).

I highly recommend this book to everyone, it will rekindle the spirit of everyone who reads it (especially the ones who think that this is just another one of the "mushy" books.

If I could, I would put a money back guarantee if not fully satisfied on this book. That is how much I enjoyed reading it.

Thank You, and I hope that you have the opportunity to pick up this book and give it a chance, I did and I loved it.

From a real Skeptical, Lucy R. Fonseca 3127 S. Nelson Amarillo, Texas 79103 [phone]